Artwork
Brand, acte V (projet de programme)
Brand, acte V (projet de programme) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Maurice Dumont. It dates from 1895 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Maurice Dumont’s lithograph Brand, acte V (projet de programme) dates from 1895. Executed on Japan paper, the work presents a solitary figure in a dark fur collar set against a stark, open landscape. The composition is rendered in black, with a flat horizon and a modest hut nestled among rugged hills.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure, a man with a solemn expression, appears to confront the surrounding terrain, suggesting a moment of contemplation or resolve. The sparse setting—rocky elevations and an isolated dwelling—reinforces a sense of solitude and perhaps an introspective narrative, though no explicit programmatic text accompanies the image.
Technique & Style
Created through lithography, Dumont drew directly onto a smooth lithographic stone, allowing the inked lines to retain a spontaneous, sketch‑like quality. The black ink on the delicate Japan paper preserves the immediacy of the hand, with loose, rapid strokes that emphasize form over detail, characteristic of late‑19th‑century experimental printmaking.
History & Provenance
The print was produced in the mid‑1890s, a period when French artists were exploring lithography for its capacity to merge drawing and reproduction. While specific ownership records are limited, the work is catalogued among Dumont’s printed oeuvre and reflects his engagement with the medium during that decade.
Artist & collection
